Our Story

September 2020, at 11 years old, our youngest son, Nathan, was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma. A disease usually diagnosed at a very early age, we were shocked, numb and then determined by faith to begin a fight like we have never known to battle this disease. We began our journey with the support of friends and community and then we were blessed by many organizations that have made it their mission to help childhood cancer families navigate this road. Nathan fought through traditional chemo treatments, weeks of hospital stays using immunotherapy and chemo, radiation, MIBG therapy and oral therapy. Over a year, he battled while we watched him no longer be able to play the sports he loved or go to school and participate in activities with his friends. Then in 2022, he was finally stable enough and felt well enough to participate in baseball and attend school. We knew he still had a fight but we thought he was stable. In February of 2023, an MIBG scan determined what we all feared the most; his cancer had come back with a vengeance and we had to start all over. He was immediately put back on immunotherapy treatment. However, one week after his first treatment, he became ill with a virus that took his life on April 1, 2023.

Nathan was a friend to many and he had many interests; baseball, video games, and playing wiffle ball in the back yard. Before he passed, he was asked to write a speech at school about the footprints he would like to leave behind. Quotes from his speech were:

“Be kind to others.”

“Give to others without receiving.”

“Stand for giving even when you have nothing.”

“While on the field for a sports event, always show good sportsmanship.”

“Throw kindness like a boomerang; you throw it, and it comes back at you” – me

We discovered his footprints on a black wall behind his desk after he passed. We then later discovered the speech in his book bag which inspired us with the name and purpose behind our organization.